The movie captures Patton's character extremely well, both his positives (dynamic and charismatic leader) and his negatives (slapping troops, big mouth). The Germans did respect him as an opponent immensely. The history is erratic. The Sicily campaign's climax of Montgomery driving into Messina to find Patton there is fictional. The "race" was conceded by Monty late in the campaign, and he pulled out his units as the 7th and 8th Armies closed in on the city, to prepare for the invasion of Italy. The "race" was really between Patton and Brig. Currie and 4th Armoured Brigade. The Monty-Patton rivalry mostly existed in Patton's mind. Montgomery actually admired Patton and would not allow him to be criticized in the 8th Army's newspaper. Patton's weaknesses included paranoia. The real hero of the movie is Omar Bradley, who disliked Monty intensely, and that shows. And Patton actually had a squeaky voice.
